Russian Military in Syria

In September 2015 Russian military forces intervened in Syria initially as part of a limited campaign against so-called Islamic State terrorists. This campaign turned into more substantive military support to Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad in his deadly fight with opposition groups, killing thousands of civilians in rebel-held areas. Operations came to an end with Assad’s fall in December 2024.

Airwars documented thousands of allegations of civilian harm from Russian strikes in Syria and produced research and reports on the conflict.

Airwars estimate of civilian deaths

4,431 – 6,522

Locally reported civilian deaths from declared or likely Russian Military actions in Syria for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Fair, or have been Confirmed by the Russian Military. These originate from 4,977 separate alleged incidents.

1,174 – 1,440
children likely killed
647 – 782
women likely killed
6,672
likely injured
3,500
named victims

Russian Military estimate of civilian deaths

0

Confirmed civilian deaths, from Russian Military actions in Syria, originating from 0 separate incidents of civilian harm.

civilians confirmed injured
Alleged deaths
15,841 – 25,260
Locally reported civilian deaths from Russian Military actions in Syria.
4,977 seperate alleged incidents
Confirmed or Fair
4,431 – 6,522
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Fair, or have been Confirmed by Russian Military
1,380 seperate alleged incidents
Weak
739 – 861
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Weak.
466 seperate alleged incidents
Contested
10,557 – 17,748
Civilian deaths for which the reporting is assessed by Airwars as Contested.
3,115 seperate alleged incidents
Discounted
114 – 129
Civilian deaths were Discounted by Airwars after assessment.
16 seperate alleged incidents
4942 incidents
Order results by:
Incident DatePublication Date

Incident Date

21 September 2016

Incident Code

RS1299

Location

المواصلات, Al Mowasalat, Aleppo, Syria
Between three and five civilians were killed, including two children, after airstrikes allegedly waged by the regime or Russia, pummeled the al Mowasalat neighbourhood of Aleppo, local media reported. More civilians were trapped under rubble. Several sorties were flown over Aleppo, and according to Islammemo “both planes and helicopters” were involved. Sources agreed that it…

Summary

Published
21 September 2016
Civilians reported killed
3–5
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

21 September 2016

Incident Code

RS1300

Location

قاضي عسكر, Qadi Askar, Aleppo, Syria
Between one and four civilians were killed, and up to seven wounded, in an airstrike on  Qadi Askar, Aleppo, local sources reported - though reports were conflicted as to whether Russian warplanes or regime helicopters were to blame. On September 22nd, aircraft pummeled several neighbourhoods in Aleppo. Smart News reported “four civilians were killed, and…

Summary

Published
21 September 2016
Civilians reported killed
1–4
Civilians reported injured
2–7
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

21 September 2016

Incident Code

RS1301

Location

حي المشهد, Al Mashad (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
Local media reported that one to three civilians died and as many as ten more were wounded in an airstrike on Aleppo's Al Mashad neighbourhood. This event looks to have been carried out by helicopters belong to the Assad regime. There were no allegations against Russia, though some sources referred to unidentified "warplanes". Photographs from…

Summary

Published
21 September 2016
Civilians reported killed
1–3
Civilians reported injured
2–10
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

21 September 2016

Incident Code

RS1302

Location

Al Maysar, Aleppo, Syria
Between one and three civilians were killed in the al Maysar neighbourhood of Aleppo following heavy air strikes with cluster bombs, according to local media - though sources were conflicted as to whether Russian warplanes or regime helicopters were to blame. @ShahbaPress, @Step_Agency, SNN, and @ALAMAWI all tweeted that one civilian was “martyred” in the…

Summary

Published
21 September 2016
Civilians reported killed
1–3
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

20 September 2016

Incident Code

RS1293

Location

حي السكري, Sukkari , Aleppo, Syria
Between two and five civilians including a child and up two women died and several more were wounded in an alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrike on Aleppo's Al Sukkari neighbourhood, according to local media. Al Jazeera said that a six-storey building was destroyed in the attack. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights,…

Summary

Published
20 September 2016
Civilians reported killed
2–5
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

20 September 2016

Incident Code

RS1294

Location

حي ‏المرجة‬, Marjah (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
Between one and four civilians were killed, and between two and thirteen wounded, when cluster and barrel bombs struck al Marja in Aleppo, according to local media. Some sources accused Russian warplanes, while others claimed regime helicopters were involved. The Syrian Observatory for Human referred to one fatality, while Twitt-book News counted four. @Radioharafm tweeted,…

Summary

Published
20 September 2016
Civilians reported killed
1–4
Civilians reported injured
2–13
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident